UTH is hot; tank is cold

[stevepoppers]

Current setup:
Glass tank, 20 gallon, about 2'x1' for a 3'6" ball. (kind of small, but we're just starting out here)
Reptile liner thingy. It's kind of felt-like.
Some aspen.
ZooMed 8W UTH.
The $12 Acurite thermometer/hygrometer everyone recommends, unit on cool side, probe under liner directly over UTH.
Whole thing up on bricks for circulation.
CHE above.

UTH is very hot. But I don't think the snake can get burnt because of the liner. Either way, the rest of the tank is too cold. Like 75-80 cold.

I'm aware that I need some sort of regulator for the UTH but even with it hotter than it should be and the CHE running, the rest of the tank is no warmer at all.

Can anyone recommend a regulator and possibly explain what the different types do and what their pros and cons are?

I love this gif.

[ClarkT]

I would recommend insulating the back and sides of the tank with 1" foam. You can get a sealant and paint it--make sure it's for foam.

You can use a thermostat for the UTH with a sensor right where the snake can get.

[mpkeelee]

75-80 is fine for the rest of the tank. if it drops below 75 then something needs to change. i keep mine at 80 everywhere, and 93 on the hot side. works great. also depending on how many snakes u have and how much u want to spend, u can get thermostats from $25-300 or more. i use the reptitemp 500 cuz its 25 bucks and works good for my 2. and i have a red bulb on the majority of the time

[Kaorte]

75-80* for ambient temps are just fine.

Work on getting a thermostat to control that UTH. You may think that your snake can't get under the substrate, but they are pretty good at being in places they shouldn't be

It is best to take preventative measures and control the UTH rather then dealing with vet bills from burns later.

[stevepoppers]

Once I get the thermostat, the UTH will obviously stay much cooler as planned, but will the habitat then be warm enough for the snake an inch of glass, reptiliner, and aspen away?

Moved the CHE towards the cool side and all the temps seem cherry, though I'm only measuring where the snake lies. She isn't trying to burrow. I think I'm ok for now, but the pet store should have a t-stat in this week.

[Kaorte]

If you have the CHE and the UTH, you will be just fine.

Once you get the thermostat you won't need the repti carpet. Just a thin layer of aspen.

Why do you have an inch of glass on your tank? Most tanks use 1/8" glass.

This is exactly where you should be taking your temps so that is good. She might not be trying to burrow now, she may not ever try and burrow. Many snakes will inadvertently move the substrate while getting into a coil or while just moving around.

[stevepoppers]

The inch is everything combined. Couldn't figure out a clear way to say that. I suppose the word "combined" might have helped.

I'm measuring the temps with the AcuRite probe on top of the substrate in the hot hide. Literally where the snake lies. As far as I've read, it should be on the glass underneath everything or on the UTH outside the tank. I've put it where I have because I want to know what the snake is feeling, rather than the out-of-control UTH, which I know is way too hot.

You're right about the liner. I had forgotten why we had even gotten it: solely to keep the snake from getting burnt. Think it can with the liner in place? I wouldn't think so unless it gets underneath, but we're trying to keep an eye on it. I check everything about every half-hour that I'm home and awake.

[Kaorte]

Ahh that makes more sense! haha

Your positioning is pretty smart especially since the way you have it set up. When you get a thermostat, I would put the probe under the substrate right where the UTH is (inside the enclosure). The thermometer probe always goes inside the enclosure, the thermostat probe always goes on the outside.

It is unlikely for the snake to become burned with the repticarpet although they always do seem to find their way into the nooks and crannies we don't want them in. Although it is very unlikely, it is still possible. Just make sure you check on the snake every once in a while to make sure it hasn't gotten under there. Once or twice a day should be fine. Remember, poking around the snake and constantly watching it will stress the snake and you out!

[rockhardchick666]

I would recommend insulating the back and sides of the tank with 1" foam. You can get a sealant and paint it--make sure it's for foam.

Blue or pink foam, white isn't worth it to deal with.

To add to the make sure it's for foam... you can make napalm. So WATER based contact cement if you're sticking something to the foam...

and if you're going to paint it.... good luck. I generally put something on top of foam before I paint it - like glue+paper.

[stevepoppers]

Well, thanks a lot everyone. The temps are holding, so I shouldn't have to insulate. Now that I've got everything pretty much right in the tank, I'm focusing on disturbing the enclosure as little as possible. I've ended up with a pet mouse because of refusal, but that isn't really surprising with all the hubbub the snake's gone through this week. The temps are a little warm inside the hot hide but the snake won't freaking leave it. I've put a little pile of substrate in front of the entrance to see when it does leave. It worries me a little and I want to check on it, but I don't want to disturb it and delay feeding. Should I lift up the hide and give it a poke to see if it's still alive or just let it be?